house, standing in a lawn agreeably disposed and from which the views to the southward, though limited, are extremely interesting. As early as the reign of Elizabeth, this place was the residence of the Chittendens, eminent clothiers here, in which name it continued down to John Chittenden, Gent. but is at present the property and residence of John Osborne, Esq.

Opposite the church (northward) a small genteel residence occupied by Robert Mutter, Esq.

On the right of the road from the Moor to Highgate stands HALL HOUSE, for upwards of two centuries in the family of Mercer; but which by purchase in 1662 came into the possession of Nathaniel Collyer, Esq. and from him to his grandson Dr. Nathaniel Lardner* who being unmarried, bequeathed his property at Hawkhurst to his sister's daughter and her husband Mr. Joseph Jennings, by whose sont it is at present possessed. In the appearance and situation of this house there is much of comfort.

TONGS, situated in a retired part of the parish eastward of Highgate, was the residence of Sir Thomas Dunk (whose munificent charitable donations have been before noticed) and in whose family it had been from the commencement of the fifteenth century. It is at present the residence and property of Frederick Wilson, Esq. a gentleman formerly in the East India company's service.

FOWLERS, situate at the east end of Highgate, was lately possessed by Sir John Brewer Davis, Knight, a descendant of

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* Dr. Nathaniel Lardner an eminent dissenting divine, author of "The credibility of the Gospel History;" of "the Testimonies of the ancient Jews and Pagans in favor of Christianity;" "the history of Heretics," &c. &c. Born 1684, died 1768.

+ Author of the account of Hawkhurst in the Bibliotheca Topo. Brit.

Richard Kilburne, Esq. author of the survey of this county, published in 1659, and who died possessed of this estate in 1678. It is now by purchase become the property of Alexander Balmanno, Esq. The situation of this seat, now rebuilding on the scite of the old house, is perhaps the most desirable in the county.

Near Flimwell on the south of the road, is a good brick house, very pleasantly situated, built by GRAY* the smuggler; now the residence † and property of Mr. Wardroper, Solicitor. About a mile beyond on the same side of the road, and near to Highgate, is New Lodge, occupied by a lady of the name of Goodwyn.

On the road from Gills-green to Benenden in a retired situation, is Atwaters, the residence of John Dunmoll Mercer, Esq. but only remarkable on account of the genuine hospitality of its owner: this gentleman, though content with so humble a dwelling, possesses very extensive landed property, in the counties of Kent and Sussex, and is most probably the wealthiest individual in the parish in which he lives. At this place the shock of the earthquake, so generally felt on the 18th of January, 1812, was so violent, as to alarm its inhabitants for their safety.

Besides those above mentioned, are several other respectable residences, but which we are unable to particularize, having already very much exceeded the prescribed limits of this article, and as yet taken no notice of the church; a material object of consideration.

The CHURCH (dedicated to St. LAWRENCE) was founded by

For some account of the gang to which he belonged, see under Goudhurst, p.100. Gray died under sentence of transportation in Newgate,

This house though usually esteemed in Hawkhurst, is in fact, in the parish of Etchingham.

the Abbot of Battle, in the reign of Edward III. and is a ve ry creditable specimen of the improved style of architecture in that reign. In the time of Edward II. a manifest change had taken place, in the decorative parts of our religious edifices, and these innovations were further extended and confirmed in the reign of his successer, and with regard to the principal parts and members continued in use, until the general suppres sion of monasteries, by Henry VIII. from which time, this style of architecture, for want of encouragement, rapidly declined, and was finally supplanted, by that barbarous and incongruous fashion which characterizes the buildings of the days of Elizabeth, and of her immediate successor.

The east front of Hawkhurst church, is unquestionably the finest piece of architecture within the Weald, and well worthy the attention of the admirers of this style of building; the windows in the north aisle, and another immediately beyond, on the same side, are also deserving of notice. The small building at the east end, which has given rise to a variety of conjecture and very erroneous conclusions, was most probably a confessional; but this, the author of "a sketch of the history of Hawkhurst," (published in continuation of the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica) might not be disposed to admit ; he says, page 7. "The building at the east end, cannot ever have been a CHAPEL, as its dimensions are too small, its situation precisely against the altar, and no appearance of any roof; it has most probably been a burial place at the time of the foundation of the church, with which it appears coeval, for some great family of the place."

One of the reasons, assigned for its not having been a CHAPEL, is evidently erroneous, as any person at all acquainted with the architecture of those times, or indeed with the most common principles of building, may easily satisfy themselves; for what purpose, but that of supporting the roof, was a set off, left on a level with the embrasures of the parapet, or of